Is LEGO art a thing? Just about everyone has played with LEGO blocks at some point in their life. But would you call these fun projects art? Not likely. However, that only means you have not seen the LEGO art created by Sean Kenney.
The North Carolina Arboretum
The Arboretum in Asheville, NC is a 434-acre property located just south of Asheville and adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Surrounded and crisscrossed by forested coves and meandering creeks in the botanically diverse Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum is set in one of the most beautiful natural settings in America.
It was established as an affiliate of the University of North Carolina System by the State General Assembly in 1986, nearly a century after Frederick law Olmsted, the Father of American Landscape Architecture, first envisioned a research arboretum as part of his legacy and plan for George Vanderbilt at Biltmore Estate.
A New Exhibit
I visit the Arboretum several times a year. On a visit earlier this year I noticed a deer sculpture that appeared choppy. Instead of smooth hide, it had an uneven stair-step pattern. I stretched my body over the protective barrier to see better and decided it was made of wood. But that did not make sense since wood can be smoothed down. Then, it came to me. The deer was made of LEGO blocks!
It was amazing to see one LEGO sculpture but as I continued walking in the gardens, I spotted another and then another. They had apparently just set up the exhibit and there were no signs up yet.
I have returned twice since then and with the signs installed, I now know that the artist is Sean Kenney.
Lego Artist Sean Kenney
Sean Kenney received his first set of LEGOs at age 2 and has been playing with them ever since. After college he worked at a desk as a graphic artist and web designer but somehow it did not feel right so he quit and built LEGO sculptures instead. Soon he was in demand by companies to create sculptures for them and today at age 44 he has a booming business.
His studio is in Queens, New York where he has an inventory of 1.2 million pieces sorted into 15 colors. There are 500 different pieces. He does not work for the LEGO company. He is just their best customer.
Attention to Detail
There are no diagrams. Instead, he works from a photo or his imagination. He says the most difficult thing to make with the blocks are circles. His attention to detail is amazing. For instance, it took him an entire day to get the eyes just right on a polar bear he created.
Summary
Looking at these photos gives you some idea how these sculptures look but it is nothing like the real thing. You need to walk around each one to appreciate the beauty and detail.
Sean exhibits his work around the world. There is a team that helps him. Wandering around a botanical garden and stumbling upon these sculptures is a really wonderful experience, one I hope you can experience as well. If the LEGO art exhibit comes to your area, I highly recommend a visit.
